How to Create a Joyful Home
“When life get’s dark as winter’s night, share some kindness, bring some light.”
There’s a book that I sometimes read my children at bedtime called “Share Some Kindness Bring Some Light” by Apryl Stott. It’s such a sweet story about the true meaning of kindness and I love reading it to them. We could all use more kindness and I hope by teaching them to be kind as often as possible, I’ll help to create kinder humans that impact a world that so often feels so cruel.
There are so many factors that impact who we are as humans and how we carry ourselves through the world. Home is one of those factors. When I think about the meaning of home, I realize that nostalgia plays a major role in that. Your favorite stories, color(s), textures, fabrics, shapes, places you’ve traveled, etc, are factors that you include in your home because they remind you of memories that bring you joy. Home is an encapsulation of joyful memories. Happier people are kinder people. So… How do we incorporate more joyful moments in our home?
Prominently place the items you cherish where you can see them every day. So many times when we do consultations in our clients’ homes, we come across a box tucked away with items that hold the sweetest memories. Bring it out!
Hang your photos, use your grandmother’s heirloom table, hang your art, showcase your books! It’s like micro-dosing joy.
Protect your brain from overstimulation by utilizing more hidden storage. Our brains need resting points in our homes — especially if you have kids (haha).
By minimizing visual clutter, you allow your brain to take a break from processing details that can lead to becoming overstressed. Prioritize closed storage when possible to prevent overstimulation. It gives your brain a break to absorb the more joyful moments in your home.
Proactively add ambient lighting. Small spaces in cities don’t always have the best lighting. As a result, many of us opt for daylight bulbs to help add functional lighting. The issue is that functional lighting is not the lighting you want when you’re trying to unwind and table lamps aren’t always an option when surface area is limited.
A 2014 study in the Journal of Consumer Psychology showed feelings of warmth associated with bright light with hints of reddish hues and an increase in a sensation of angst when bluer light dominated. Candlelights and plug-in wall sconces are a great solution for this. It creates a calm environment that supports relaxation.
The secret to incorporating joy into your small space is making it yours. Customize it! Whether you rent or own, all things are possible. Need a little help? Submit an inquiry!
